Speech-Language Pathology Faculty

Tracy Carr-Marcel, Ph.D., M.S., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Pathology Program

Dr. Tracy Carr-Marcel’s speech-language pathology experience began when she obtained her certificate of clinical competence in 2000. Her interest in communication sciences and disorders was influenced by having to learn sign language at an early age to effectively communicate with her maternal grandmother who was deaf.

Dr. Carr-Marcel’s career has covered the spectrum of clinical settings to include short-term rehab, long-term care, acute hospital care, and outpatient clinics. She pursued a career in higher education in 2021 due to a desire to share her diverse professional experience and prepare college students to enter the field of speech-language pathology.

While she is a native of Washington DC, Dr. Carr-Marcel has resided in different parts of North Carolina since her career began. She has two adult children: a daughter in college and a son in the National Guard. Dr. Carr-Marcel is a true animal lover with three dogs, two cats, and two birds. In addition, she loves to spend time with family.

Emily Lambert

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Pathology Program

Emily Lambert is an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program. She joined the program at West Coast University in July 2024. Professor Lambert completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas and Master’s degree at Texas Christian University. She is currently completing her dissertation for her Ed.D. In Organizational Leadership at Abilene Christian University. Professor Lambert has 14 years of experience in speech-language pathology. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation, university clinics, and schools. Professor Lambert has presented at state and local conferences. She serves on the TSHA Continuation of Guidelines committee. She has received three ASHA Awards for Continuing Education and holds certifications in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT), SpeakOut!, and Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy. She has developed clinical expertise in the areas of voice, pediatric communication disorders, and leadership. Outside of work, Professor Lambert enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her family and friends.

Nicole Shears, Ed.D., CCC-SLP

Faculty Manager, Online Learning

Professor Nicole Shears has over 17 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist providing treatment to diverse clients across the life span. She has provided therapy in various settings, including nursing homes, home health, outpatient clinics, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, early childhood intervention, and public schools. In addition to providing therapy to clients with diverse needs, Professor Shears has served in a teaching and mentoring capacity for over nine years as a supervisor to speech-language pathologist assistants and graduate student clinicians. Her favorite aspects of being a mentor are observing clinicians as they develop confidence in their skills and what she learns from them in return. Professor Shears is currently completing her dissertation to pursue her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership through Liberty University. She earned both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Abilene Christian University.

Professor Shears is married with two children and a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Italy, she developed a passion for exploring new cultures. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, visiting with friends and family, and attending her children’s musical and sporting events.

Dr. Michelle Zemsky Dineen

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Pathology Program

Dr. Michelle Zemsky Dineen joined the faculty at West Coast University in July 2024 as an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program. Dr. Dineen completed undergraduate training at Miami University (OH), a master’s degree at Northwestern, and her PhD in Interprofessional Healthcare Studies at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Following decades of work as a clinician and multidisciplinary rehabilitation manager working with adults and geriatrics throughout the spectrum of care, Dr. Dineen sought out her doctorate to focus on the next generation of healthcare providers. Having seen the benefits of truly collaborative practice in action, and the pitfalls when we practice in silos, she knew going back to school and teaching were the next phase of her career. While not being client/patient focused leaves a huge hole, she carries the stories of those she was privileged to work with; they remain her driving force. The combination of these experiences has afforded Dr. Dineen a unique perspective into our roles as SLP providers and teammates, leading through change, and the business of healthcare.

Dr. Dineen has taught as an adjunct at multiple universities throughout the Midwest and recently completed a two-year Visiting Professorship. Having taught both online and in person, she recognizes and respects the intentional manner online programs seek to engage future professionals and increase access to the field. Dr. Dineen presents regionally and nationally on topics related to medical practice of SLP, interprofessional education and practice, and ethics. These same areas serve as her primary research interests.

Active roles in professional organizations include the following:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, member
• Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Fellow
• National Academies of Practice, Distinguished Fellow

Dr. Dineen is thrilled to join the team at WCU and serve the students as they grow their knowledge and skills and transition into practice. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, most notably her husband and two rescue pups, Flash and Dash, who all reside in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Camisha Williams

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Pathology Program

Dr. Camisha Williams joined West Coast University in July 2023 as an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Dr. Williams is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of practice. She is the co-owner/ general partner of Lighthouse Therapeutics and serves on the board of Lighthouse Foundation. Dr. Williams received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Georgia and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Carolina.  Dr. Williams also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Walden University.  While Dr. Williams began her clinical focus on adults with traumatic brain injuries and other deficits, her current focus is children with a variety of language and developmental delays. Her specific interests include Autism in girls, Sensory Integration and language development, as well as special populations and sound models of  professional practice. She has been an online instructor for several years and serves as a speech-language pathology clinical field site supervisor for various colleges and universities. Dr. Williams is licensed as a speech language pathologist in several states and serves as a mentor to undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Williams lectures and gives presentations across South Carolina. She is a special education consultant for students in K-12 schools. Dr. Williams is a member of the American Speech-Hearing Association (ASHA), National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing, The National Society of Leadership and Success, Psi Chi Psychology National Honor Society, as well as Founding Board Member of the Montessori Charter School of Camden. Dr. Williams also has completed the  Advanced Apraxia Workshop at TCU presented by The Once Upon a Child Foundation.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Dr. Williams provides community outreach. She endows the Beverly Hayes Brown Book Scholarship annually and is co-founder of the Amari Williams Hope for Healing Hearts Foundation. Dr. Williams is the senior vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #203 and is a member of Women in Leadership in South Carolina, Dr. Williams’ greatest achievement and endearment are her two children, Amari and Belle.

Sharita Williams-Crossen, Ed.D, CCC-SLP

Director of Clinical Education of the Speech Language Pathology Program

Sharita Williams-Crossen, Ed.D, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Education of the Speech-Language Pathology Program. She is a native of Greensboro, NC, and has been practicing in Speech-Language Pathology for over 25 years. Dr. Williams-Crossen earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Masters of Education in Communication Disorders from North Carolina Central University, and Doctorate of Education in Child, Youth, and Family Studies with a specialization in Exceptional Children from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Williams-Crossen is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners and certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

Dr. Williams-Crossen specializes in early intervention and is a certified Infant Toddler Family Specialist (ITFS). She has been certified for over 15 years. This certification demonstrates her specialized knowledge, skills, attitude, and attributes suited to providing quality services to the many differing young children, families, caregivers, professionals, and communities she serves. Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to serve on the NC Interagency Coordinating Council responsible for public awareness, community needs assessment, system evaluation, and professional development related to early intervention.

Before joining WCU, she was the managing director of a private practice managing day-to-day operations of the business, including providing high-quality speech therapy services to individuals across the lifespan with various communication needs related to developmental delays, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and autism, to name a few. Dr. Williams-Crossen has a diverse background in speech-language pathology, including early intervention, Head Start, public schools, charter schools, nursing homes, and home health. Also, in this capacity, she provided clinical education to undergraduate and graduate practicum students, assisting in developing clinical and professional skills to conduct high-quality speech sessions.

She has over 15 years of post-secondary experience in teaching and research. Teaching experiences include courses in communication sciences and disorders, phonetics, speech and language development, language disorders, observation in communication sciences and disorders, and computer applications in speech-language pathology. Her most recent research interests include increasing language and literacy through culturally responsive practices.

Dr. Williams-Crossen enjoys maximizing the communication of individuals of all ages by working collaboratively with families and other community professionals. Her passion is preparing future clinicians to make a difference in the lives of individuals with communication needs. Outside of work, Dr. Williams-Crossen enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Meredith Gohsman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Program

Dr. Meredith Gohsman is an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program. She joined the Speech-Language Pathology faculty at West Coast University in December 2023. Dr. Gohsman completed her undergraduate degree at Old Dominion University and Master’s degree at James Madison University. She completed her PhD at Old Dominion University in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation in December 2021. Dr. Gohsman has 10 years of experience in speech-language pathology. She has experience in a variety of clinical settings, including schools, outpatient/inpatient rehabilitation, university clinics, and mental health settings. Throughout these clinical experiences, Dr. Gohsman has worked with individuals across the lifespan. She has developed clinical expertise in the areas of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), language disorders, pediatric communication disorders, service delivery models, patient- and family-centered care, and research methodologies.

Dr. Gohsman has teaching experience in both face-to-face and virtual learning environments. She has presented at international, national, state, and local conferences. Dr. Gohsman is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA Special Interest Group 10 and 12, as well as the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). She served as a member of the ASHA 2022 Convention AAC Program Committee. In addition, Dr. Gohsman was recognized as a Distinguished Early Career Professional by ASHA in 2020 and has received two ASHA Awards for Continuing Education.

Dr. Gohsman’s clinical and research interests include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) modalities, as well as mechanisms to reduce participation barriers reported by AAC stakeholders. She enjoys working with students to build capacity and confidence in the speech-language pathology scope of practice. Dr. Gohsman also enjoys spending time with her family.

Magaly C. Ramirez, M.A., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor of the Speech-Language Program

Magaly Ramirez is an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at West Coast University, having joined in January 2024. She earned both her BA and MA in Speech Pathology and Audiology from South Carolina State University.

Magaly Ramirez is an Assistant Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at West Coast University, having joined in January 2024. She earned both her BA and MA in Speech Pathology and Audiology from South Carolina State University.

Professor Ramirez’s clinical and research interests include cultural and linguistic diversity, with a focus on addressing communication challenges in low socioeconomic communities. Committed to continuous learning and professional growth, her goal is to empower her students to become proficient professionals, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver quality services to their future clients.

Outside of her professional life, Professor Ramirez lives in South Texas with her husband, their three daughters, and a goofy chocolate lab. She enjoys coaching youth soccer, reading, visiting Disney World, and cheering her children in their various activities.

Part-Time

Staff